Profile of the patients suffering from non-communicable diseases attending outpatient department of an urban health training center- a cross sectional study

Background: Non-communicable diseases continue to be an important public health problem in India. These diseases are responsible for a major proportion of morbidity and mortality. In view of this, study was conducted among patients suffering from non-communicable diseases attending outpatient department of an urban health training center of a medical college to know their profile. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the month of September, 2023 at an urban health training center. All the patients suffering from non-communicable diseases attending outpatient department during above month were included in the study using purposive sampling method. Predesigned and pretested proforma was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and appropriate statistical methods. The statistical level of significance was fixed at p<0.05. Results: 4670 new patients attended outpatient department, of which 269 (05.76%) were suffering from non-communicable diseases. 136 (52.92%) were suffering from hypertension, 105 (40.86%) were of diabetes, 07 (02.72%) were of stroke and 09 (03.50%) were of other non-communicable diseases. 12 (04.46%) patients were suffering from both hypertension and diabetes. 131 (50.97%) were above 60 years of age. 139 (54.09%) were males and 118 (45.91%) were females. 50 (19.46%) patients were illiterate while 207 (80.54%) were literate (p<0.05). 42 (16.34%) patients were having family history of non-communicable diseases. 40 (15.56%) and 62 (24.12%) patients were doing yoga and exercise respectively. 77 (29.96%) patients were smokers or consuming tobacco or alcohol. Conclusions: The growing problem of non-communicable diseases can be effectively controlled by empowerment of community through effective health education, utilizing services of trained health care workers, advanced health care services and social insurance.

Kuttner’s tumour: chronic sclerosing sialadenitis- a mimicker of malignancy

Background: Kuttner’s tumour is a condition of the submandibular gland which is underreported as a distinct entity. Also called as the chronic sclerosing sialadenitis it resembles a plasmocytic and lymphocytic inflammatory process and presents as a hard and painful mass which clinically mimics a malignancy and raises significant concerns. The objective of the present study was to evaluate cases of Kuttner’s tumor and discuss its clinical and pathological aspects to distinguish it from a definite malignancy and create a grown acceptance of the presence of such an entity in our setting.Methods: We collected 170 cases of submandibular swellings and evaluated in detail the clinical and pathological aspects of eight cases out of them which were later diagnosed to as Kuttner’s tumour.Results: The age of the patients varied between 23 to 61 years (mean age 42.5 years) with 3 males and 5 females. 6 patients reported with a firm to hard painless submandibular mass (5 left sided; 3 right sided) while 2 patients experienced intermittent discomfort. The mean duration of presentation of symptoms was 5.3 months. Fine needle aspiration cytology was done in 6 cases preoperatively. Following submandibular sialadenectomy histopathology showed salivary gland tissue with preserved lobular architecture, but with marked fibrosis, acinar atrophy, and a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates.Conclusions: Kuttner’s tumor may be pre operatively distinguished from a malignancy with improved imaging and a good image guided FNA Cytology saving the clinician and the patient from a lot of dilemma. However, histopathology and immunohistochemistry would be the key in establishing the diagnosis.

Acute isolated medial rectus palsy due to infarction as a result of hypercoagulable state: A case report and literature review

Isolated medial rectus palsy in an otherwise healthy individual is a very rare entity. However, this may point towards underlying systemic pathology. This is a case report of an otherwise healthy young adult male who presented with sudden onset non-progressive blurring of vision in right eye. A series of investigations were performed and the patient was diagnosed to have a rheumatological disorder. Isolated muscle palsies in young patient may be masking a systemic disorder and needs to be evaluated thoroughly.

Retrospective study on outcomes of terminal chop technique of nuclear fragmentation in phacoemulsification and combined surgery: An observational study

Purpose: Terminal chop, a new technique of nuclear segmentation, has been recently described in literature. The technique is considered to be a safe and effective option. Methods: We did a retrospective study to evaluate the outcome of terminal chop. Patients operated for terminal chop (phacoemulsification with or without trabeculectomy) from October 2016 to July 2018 were included in the study. Results: In all, 933 patients were included in the study. The grade of nuclear sclerosis ranged from 2 to 5. All the patients had a significant visual improvement at 1 month postop. Around 3.4% had pseudoexfoliation and 8.89% of the eyes underwent combined surgery. Cumulative dissipated energy showed a proportionate relation with the grade of nucleus. Intraoperative complication rate was 0.08%. Postoperative complication rate was 3.50%. Conclusion: Terminal chop proved to be a safe, reproducible, and effective technique of nuclear segmentation in different grades of cataract.

Pre-clinical toxicity & immunobiological evaluation of DNA rabies vaccine & combination rabies vaccine in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Background & objectives: Pre-clinical toxicology evaluation of biotechnology products is a challenge to the toxicologist. The present investigation is an attempt to evaluate the safety profile of the first indigenously developed recombinant DNA anti-rabies vaccine [DRV (100 μg)] and combination rabies vaccine [CRV (100 μg DRV and 1.25 IU of cell culture-derived inactivated rabies virus vaccine)], which are intended for clinical use by intramuscular route in Rhesus monkeys. Methods: As per the regulatory requirements, the study was designed for acute (single dose - 14 days), sub-chronic (repeat dose - 28 days) and chronic (intended clinical dose - 120 days) toxicity tests using three dose levels, viz. therapeutic, average (2x therapeutic dose) and highest dose (10 x therapeutic dose) exposure in monkeys. The selection of the model i.e. monkey was based on affinity and rapid higher antibody response during the efficacy studies. An attempt was made to evaluate all parameters which included physical, physiological, clinical, haematological and histopathological profiles of all target organs, as well as Tiers I, II, III immunotoxicity parameters. Results: In acute toxicity there was no mortality in spite of exposing the monkeys to 10XDRV. In sub chronic and chronic toxicity studies there were no abnormalities in physical, physiological, neurological, clinical parameters, after administration of test compound in intended and 10 times of clinical dosage schedule of DRV and CRV under the experimental conditions. Clinical chemistry, haematology, organ weights and histopathology studies were essentially unremarkable except the presence of residual DNA in femtogram level at site of injection in animal which received 10X DRV in chronic toxicity study. No Observational Adverse Effects Level (NOAEL) of DRV is 1000 ug/dose (10 times of therapeutic dose) if administered on 0, 4, 7, 14, 28th day. Interpretation & conclusions: The information generated by this study not only draws attention to the need for national and international regulatory agencies in formulating guidelines for pre-clinical safety evaluation of biotech products but also facilitates the development of biopharmaceuticals as safe potential therapeutic agents.

Prevalence of specific IGM due to toxoplasma, rubella, CMV and c.trachomatis infections during pregnancy.

One hundred and seventy five apparently normal asymptomatic pregnant women were studied prospectively and 247 women with different complications of pregnancy were screened at the time of delivery for infections like Chlamydia trachomatis, Toxoplasma, Rubella and cytomegalovirus (CMV). One hundred and forty two women with normal outcome of pregnancy served as controls. Specific IgM due to these agents were determined in the sera using commercial diagnostic kits. Results of the study showed that chlamydial infection was the most prevalent (29.8%) followed by Toxoplasmosis (13.1), Rubella (6.5%) and CMV (5.8%). Adverse outcome was seen among those seropositive for Chlamydia, Toxoplasmosis and Rubella. CMV showed no association with adverse outcome of pregnancy. Since Chlamydia and Toxoplasmosis are amenable to treatment with antibiotics, screening for these infections and appropriate treatment would improve outcome of pregnancy.

Nutritional status, psychosocial development and the home environment of Indian rural children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the psychosocial development of well nourished and malnourished children aged 0-6 years and to identify the microenvironmental factors influencing their growth and development. DESIGN: Multicentric cross-sectional. SETTING: Rural Communities. SUBJECTS: Total of 3668 children of whom 2212 were well nourished and 1456 were malnourished. METHODS: Weight for age index to assess nutritional status. Cut-off < 75% NCHS standards used based on Gomez grades II and III being malnourished and Normal and grade I being well nourished. ICMR Developmental Screening Test to assess psychosocial development and modified WHO parental interview schedule to assess family and micro-environmental factors. RESULTS: Malnourished children attained developmental milestones at a later age. Developmental delay among the malnourished was especially observed in areas like vision and fine motor, language and comprehension and personal social. The delay was to the extent of 7-11 months in these areas in different age groups. Paternal involvement with child care especially, father spending time, telling stories and taking child for outing was found to be important for positive psychosocial development. Other significant factors included parents teaching child, small family size and paternal occupation. Child's appetite, absence of health problems, parental age and family having own house and electricity were the factors significantly related to better nutritional status of children. CONCLUSION: Factors identified in the study are important for the development of relevant intervention at the home level. Appropriate multifaceted community based programmes such as the ICDS are also required for stimulating growth and development of backward rural children.

Early detection of tuberculous meningitis using one step competitive ELISA.

A one step competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was developed to detect mycobacterial antigen in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis and compared with a standard competitive ELISA method. Indigenously prepared soluble extract of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv was used as antigen. The study was conducted using CSF of 230 clinically diagnosed cases of tuberculous meningit is and 208 control subjects. A cutoff value of 0.57 ng/ml by the one step ELISA and 0.5 ng/ml by the standard ELISA method were determined. The specificity of both methods were 100% and positivity was 68.26% and 70.43% respectively. A follow up study was conducted in 63 cases at various interval of time after starting anti-tubercular therapy i.e. at 3 weeks (63 cases), 6 weeks (27 cases) and > or = 4-12 months (13 cases). It was observed that antigen levels decreased gradually, but were much above the cutoff range. Indigenously prepared antigen was compared with antigen prepared in other laboratories and standard molecular weight markers using SDS PAGE (Sodium Do-decyl Sulphate Polycrylamide Gel Electrophoresis).

Screening test battery for assessment of psychosocial development.

A multicentric cross-sectional collaborative study was undertaken in 3 centres in India with the main aim of developing simple and reliable indicators for the early detection of developmental disabilities in children under 6 years of age and to compare the age of attainment of developmental milestones in children in the three regions. The study provided a simple low-cost and culture-appropriate psychosocial developmental screening test battery which can be used with ease by trained public health grass-roots functionaries. This instrument was standardized on a large rural, tribal and urban sample comprising more than 13,000 children from 3 regions in India. The procedure for sampling, selection of items and methodology for standardization of the instrument in the Hyderabad region detailed in this paper were replicated in other centres as well. Quality control of data was ensured through inter-rater and test-retest measures of reliability. During pre-testing, 66 culture-appropriate milestones were selected finally from a larger item pool. The 50th centile age reference values of the Hyderabad study children and those obtained by other 2 centres were comparable.

Beryllium toxicity in Neurospora crassa.

In Neurospora crassa, 0·44 mM Be2+ caused half-maximal inhibition of growth and this inhibition could be fully counteracted by the addition of 2·5 mM Ca2+ to the medium. Mn2+ and Mg2+ were less effective in reversing the growth inhibition caused by Be2+ and the order of effectiveness was Ca2+ > Mn2+ > Mg2+. Fe3+ and Zn2+ were ineffective in reversing Be2+ toxicity. Pyruvate, malate and succinate also reversed the growth inhibition caused by Be2+ in N. crassa. Pyruvate restored growth by a mechanism not involving control of Be2+ accumulation in the mould. The rate of utilisation of glucose by the mycelia grown in the presence of Be2+ was reduced, while that of pyruvate was not affected. The results indicate that the primary metabolic lesion in Be2+ toxicity in N. crassa is probably a block at some step(s) in the glycolytic sequence.